Music by Ricky Ian Gordon Libretto by Michael Korie Based on the novel by John Steinbeck Original stage direction and dramaturgy by Eric Simonson Orchestrations by Ricky Ian Gordon and Bruce Coughlin Co-commissioned by The Minnesota Opera and Utah Symphony & Opera World premiere February 10, 13, 15, 17 and 18, 2007 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Sung in English with English captions
THE CAST
Conductor..................................................Grant Gershon Stage Director ............................................Eric Simonson Choreographer..............................................Doug Varone Set Designer ................................................Allen Moyer Costume Designer ....................................Kärin Kopischke Lighting Designer ......................................Robert Wierzel Video Designer ................................Wendall K. Harrington Sound Designer ......................................C. Andrew Mayer Wig Master and Makeup ..................Tom Watson & Associates Assistant Director ..............................Doug Scholz-Carlson Assistant Choreographer ......................Heidi Spesard-Noble Children’s Chorusmaster..................................Janice Kimes Dialect Coach ..............................................Elisa Carlson Production Stage Manager ........................Alexander Farino Flying Sequences ........................................Flying by Foy
Tom Joad, a released prisoner ......................Brian Leerhuber Ma Joad, family matriarch..............................Deanne Meek Rosasharn, Tom’s pregnant sister......................Kelly Kaduce Jim Casy, a lapsed preacher ......................Roger Honeywell Pa Joad, a tenant farmer ............................Peter Halverson Uncle John, Pa’s brother ..................................Robert Orth Granma, Pa and John’s mother ........................Rosalind Elias Grampa, her husband ....................................Dan Dressen Connie Rivers, Rosasharn’s husband ..............Jesse Blumberg Noah, Tom’s slow-witted brother ..............Andrew Wilkowske Al, his younger brother ....................................Joshua Kohl Ruthie, their younger sister ......................Maeve Moynihan Winfield, their youngest brother ..................Henry Bushnell Featured ensemble................................Theodore Chletsos; ........................................Anna Jablonski; Kelly Markgraf; ......................................Gregory Pearson; Karin Wolverton
Setting: Oklahoma, Southwestern America and California in the mid 1930s The composer dedicates this score to Kevin Doyle.
The Grapes of Wrath is sponsored by
, national presenting sponsor.
Additional support provided by the National Endowment of the Arts, Opera America and BNSF Foundation.
The Grapes of Wrath is a coproduction with Utah Symphony & Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Pittsburgh Opera. The appearances of Kelly Kaduce, winner; Theodore Chletsos, national semifinalist; Anna Jablonski and Andrew Wilkowske, regional finalists; and Jesse Blumberg and Joshua Kohl, district finalists of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, are made possible through a Minnesota Opera Endowment Fund established for Artist Enhancement by Barbara White Bemis. Performances of The Grapes of Wrath are being taped for delayed broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio, KSJN 99.5 in the Twin Cities.
The 2006–2007 Season Preview Recording is made possible, in part, with the assistance of Universal Music. The Minnesota Opera season is sponsored by FAF Advisors and U.S. Bank. The appearances of the 2006–2007 season conductors are underwritten by SpencerStuart. Opera Insights is sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. Camerta Dinners and Meet the Artists events are sponsored by Lowry Hill Private Wealth Management.
| THE GRAPES OF WRATH
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck © 1939; renewed 1967 by John Steinbeck; permission granted by McIntosh and Otis, Inc.
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